Acupuncture for Babies

Question: "I've heard that baby acupuncture can cure all kinds of infant health issues. Is that true? And is it safe?"

It’s no fun watching your little one get poked with needles during immunizations, so you might wonder why anyone would want to turn a baby into a human pincushion. For starters, studies suggest this ancient Chinese medical practice can relieve common illnesses like colic, ear infections, colds, fever, and coughs, especially when combined with Western medicine.

Is it safe? The American Academy of Pediatrics has no particular stance on acupuncture for babies, but it does suggest you check with your child’s doctor before beginning treatment. There’s no minimum age to start, and acupuncturists routinely treat infants — but use common sense: Don’t expose your newborn to germs (from other patients in the office, from not perfectly sterilized needles) since the outcome could be worse than the symptom you’re trying to treat. For simple issues like ear infections and colds, you can talk to your doctor about starting acupuncture as soon as you see symptoms — there’s no reason to wait for symptoms to worsen or improve before trying acupuncture. Here’s what else you should know if you’re considering baby acupuncture.

Acupuncture is a bit of a mystery. No one’s figured out exactly how or why acupuncture works, but here’s one popular theory: Ailments set in when energy (called chi or qi and pronounced chee) can’t flow freely throughout the body. When acupuncture therapists puncture specific areas of your baby’s body with very fine needles (totally painless, but more on that in a minute), it unblocks trapped energy, which improves health. Another theory: Acupuncture releases pain-relieving endorphins, the hormones that make you happy. It may sound a bit out there to some, but Asian cultures have been doing acupuncture for thousands of years, making it one of the oldest healing practices in the world.

The needle pokes aren’t painful. Acupuncture for babies may sound scary, but the very thin, solid needles are a lot more delicate than the hollow ones used to inject vaccinations or draw blood. (Those tear the skin to do their jobs, which hurts.) Acupuncture needles are, at worst, slightly uncomfortable going in. Most patients don’t seem to mind, though, and some even fall asleep during treatment. Of course, there’s a risk of bleeding and infection any time the skin is punctured, but overall, reports of acupuncture-related injuries are quite rare. If you’re still concerned about causing your baby pain, sign up for an acupuncture treatment yourself to experience how it feels.

Choose a legitimate acupuncturist. About half of all states require acupuncturists to be licensed, meaning they must complete certain schooling and pass an exam (look for the L.Ac. designation like you would an M.D. or D.O.). You can find licensed acupuncturists in your area via the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. How much will treatment run you? Check your health plan: About half now cover acupuncture (and it’s sometimes covered by Medicaid). Before beginning any treatment, though, take your child in for a consultation. This is the time to ask about the acupuncturist’s education, background, licensing (if applicable), and baby-acupuncture experience, as well as the practitioner’s familiarity of working with other health-care providers to guarantee coordinated and comprehensive care for your cutie.

Written by Heidi Murkoff

Heidi Murkoff is the author of the world’s best-selling pregnancy and parenting series, What to Expect, that began with What to Expect When You’re Expecting. She is also the creator of WhatToExpect.com and founder of the What to Expect Foundation.